Laserfiche WebLink
,, <br />CONNECT <br />oorrmf� <br />Vibrant Communities - Robust Region <br />Examples of Regional Planning Benefits — Smaller Communities <br />Dirk Bowles, Commissioner, Franklin County, Idaho (12,786 population) <br />"When towns plan for their futures, they reduce infrastructure costs, encourage more jobs, and <br />provide a higher quality of life for their residents." (Commenting on the Envision Cache Valley <br />Regional Planning Process) <br />Franklin County, Idaho: 250 miles southeast of Boise, 98 miles north of Salt Lake City <br />Mike Scanlon, City Administrator, Mission, Kansas (population just under 10,000) <br />NIARC (Mid- American Regional Council) allows us access to resources and connections we <br />couldn't get by ourselves. We get to be a big player even though we're considered a small fish." <br />Mission, Kansas: 6.5 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. <br />Mark Randall, City Administrator, City of Pleasant Hill, Missouri (population 8,113) <br />"Working together with neighboring communities, and with the assistance of MARC (Mid - <br />American Regional Council) staff, we have been involved in a number of very successful regional <br />initiatives. While the entire list would be too large to attempt to list here, some of my favorite <br />projects include the following: <br />Transportation — "Pleasant Hill has received about $15 million in federal transportation <br />funds since the mid 90s which were allocated through the MARC transportation <br />planning/grant process. This regional process has allowed our relatively small town to have a <br />seat at the table alongside larger organizations like Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, <br />and the Missouri Department of Transportation, and to have a voice in the allocation of <br />regional transportation funds. We have participated on committees allocating regional funding <br />for highways, transit improvements, and hikingibiking trails." <br />Solid Waste — "Pleasant Hill also participates in regional solid waste /recycling planning <br />activities through MARC. We've not only received grant funds for recycling efforts, we've <br />also been able to participate in a program developed for the regional collection of Household <br />Hazardous Waste (HEW)." <br />Legislative — "Our city takes an active role in helping to develop a legislative agenda for <br />our region. When many communities join together and speak with one voice, even the <br />smallest among us are better heard." <br />• Purchasing - "Pleasant Hill and neighboring communities save thousands of dollars every <br />year by participating in a regional purchasing cooperative organized and coordinated through <br />MARC." <br />Attachment number 7 <br />G -2 Page 321 <br />